AudioPilz - Synths - Bad/Better Gear

Bad Gear - Yamaha CS1x - Not Exactly My Thing video by AudioPilz

Just discovered this series. Above is the latest video featuring the Yamaha CS1x. Below is a playlist of previous videos in the series. I'm guessing the CS1x will be added. P.S. I actually own a CS1x and SU10 so it's kind of fun seeing them paired in this video. The CS1x is all ROMpler but it does have some nice icy strings. It has a bright digital character about it - like it's permanently run through a glassy sounding reverb.



Playlist (enjoy, or not - use the controls on the bottom left or upper right of the player to skip around):
Bad Gear - Roland TB-3 - A Touchscreen TB-303 Nightmare???
How To Control The Microkorg Using Midi Controllers??? (Tutorial)
Bad Gear - Microkorg - A Hipster Synth???
Bad Gear - Am I Too Bad For This Synth???
Bad Gear - Akai Timbre Wolf - Weakest Poly Synth???
Bad Gear - Korg Electribe EA-1 - Worst Of The Tribe???
Bad Gear - Red Sound Darkstar - Worst Synth Of All Time???
Bad Gear - M-Audio Venom - Biggest Software Dongle Of All Time???
Better Gear - DIY Yamaha DX7 Realtime Controller (Tutorial)
Bad Gear - Roland JX-305 - Pub Gig MC-505???
Bad Gear - Arturia Minibrute - The Tutorial Synth???
Bad Gear - Roland D-110 - 80s Sound In A Box???
Bad Gear - Yamaha FB-01 - Second Worst FM Synth???
Bad Gear - Yamaha SHS-10 Keytar - Most Embarrassing Synth Of All Time???
Bad Gear - Quasimidi Sirius - 90s Techno Machine???
Bad Gear - Korg Kaossilator Pro - The Synth of Christmas Past???
Bad Gear - Nintendo Korg DS-10 - Game Boy MS-20???
Roland U-110 - Yet Another Boring 80s Synthesizer???
Bad Gear - Roland Sound Canvas SC-55 - Vintage Gamers Synth???
Bad Gear - Yamaha DJX - Kid’s Keyboard???
Bad Gear - Roland SH-201 - The MP3 Synth??? (feat. Alex Ball)
Bad Gear - Casio SK-1 - The Original Fart Sampler
Bad Gear - Waldorf Blofeld - Vintage Sound of the Future???

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

New AudioPilz Bad Gear Episodes

Playlist:
Bad Gear - Korg Poly-800 - 80s Throwback Synth
Bad Gear - Roland MT-32 - The OG Retro Gamers Synth
Bad Gear - Roland A-01 - Most Useless Piece of Gear???
Bad Gear - Dave Smith Instruments Mopho - Giving the Pro-1 a Bad Name???

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Bad Gear - Yamaha TX81Z

video upload by AudioPilz

Click on the AudioPilz link above for additional Bad Gear posts. Remember you can click on any YouTube name to bring up additional posts.

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Yamaha TX81Z FM Tone Generator. Is this classic Yamaha FM synth nothing but the home to the iconic 80s bass, the legendary Lately Bass preset? Can it be worse to operate than the Yamaha DX7? Will rack synthesizers ever look good on social media?

Thanks to Anders Enger Jensen for showing that rack synths can indeed look Instagram-worthy:
https://eoxstudios.bandcamp.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:10 Overview Yamaha TX81Z
01:27 UI and basic tweak
01:39 Presets
02:06 Lately Bass Preset
02:25 Lately Bass vs. Solid Bass comparison (Yamaha FB01)
03:02 Additional Waveforms
03:28 Compatibility (Yamaha DX21, Yamaha DX27, Yamaha DX100)
03:37 Envelopes, LFO, Midi Delay, Chords, Pseudo-reverb
04:11 Multitimbrality, Polyphony, Outputs, Menus
04:33 Pricing
04:43 Hate
05:11 Jam 1
06:07 Jam 2
07:14 Finale
07:44 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Arturia Drumbrute Impact

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Drumbrute Impact. Is the smaller version of the modern classic drum machine the better Drumbrute?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:58 Overview
05:04 Hate
05:31 Jam 1
06:35 Jam 2
07:36 Finale
08:10 Verdict"

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Bad Gear - Roland TR-8

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to full tracks, music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland TR-8 Rhythm Performer. Has this 2014 drum machine already become a classic???"

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Bad Gear - Roland JX03

video upload by AudioPilz

Click the AudioPilz link for additional Bad Gear posts.

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland Boutique JX-03. Why did they emulate the Roland JX-3P, a nerdy, mostly knobless distant relative of the legendary Roland Juno-6, Juno-60 and Juno-106 and are the added knobs of the PG-200 controller an advantage over the original?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:58 Overview Roland JX03
01:06 Presets
01:23 History of the Roland JX-3P
02:10 UI, polyphony, note stealing, patch memory
02:49 Oscillator Section, cross modulation (sync, metal, ring mod)
03:26 Filter, hi pass
03:44 Modulators (envelope, LFO)
04:22 Chorus, noise emulation, hidden chorus
04:35 Delay
04:43 Sequencer
05:11 Hidden parameters
05:20 Manual, unofficial user guide, dual voice mode, portamento
05:44 What else??? (Boutique stuff, pricing,...)
06:02 Hate
06:30 Jam 1
07:26 Jam 2
08:24 Finale
08:55 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Roland EF-303

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland EF-303 Groove Effects. Was it yet another attempt to milk the legendary Roland TB-303 moniker?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:10 Overview
05:28 Hate
05:57 Jam 1
06:55 Jam 2
08:07 Finale
08:35 Verdict"

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Bad Gear - Roland JX-8P - An 80s Miracle

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland JX-8P. Is this very Yamaha DX7 - like knobless sibling of the famous Roland Junos and Roland Jupiters an 80s miracle? Will the Roland Boutique JX-08 be worth it? Will Espen Kraft be upset? Merry Christmas!!!

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:31 Overview
05:03 Hate
05:27 Jam 1
06:25 Jam 2
07:23 Finale
08:02 Verdict
09:28 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout"

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Bad Gear - Synthesizer Plays You

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz
https://www.instagram.com/audio.pilz/

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about SOMA Lyra-8 . Is this organismic synthesizer , ritualistic instrument and icon of industrial civilization a modern synth classic or is the King naked? Here on Bad Gear - Synthesizer Plays You !!! Synth plays you in this synth ritual .

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune (Theater Music Version)
00:46 Overview Soma Lyra 8
01:15 Tone Generators, Sharp, Tuning
01:40 Envelope, Heavy FM
01:55 Modulations, Feedback
02:20 Ext CV, Master Tuning
02:35 Hold
02:49 External Hold, Paid Upgrade
03:02 Alternate FM Mode
03:12 Vibrato
03:23 LFO
03:35 Modulation Delay
04:18 Self-Oscillation
04:32 Distortion
04:40 Connectivity, Integration, Philosophy
05:13 Pricing, Software Emulation
05:29 Hate
05:55 Jam 1 (Album Interlude)
06:51 Jam 2 (Techno)
07:54 Finale (Danceable Musique Concrete)
08:25 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Casio Rapman - Too Cute???

video upload by AudioPilz

The intro sounds like it was made with the Rapman. I just realized all the intros are all slightly different. You can find additionalAudioPilz Bad Gear posts here.

"You want full tracks, extended jams, sample packs, confidential information about gear featured in the next episode, vocoder shoutouts and/or general awesomeness? Become a Patron!!!

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Chapters:

00:00 Intro tune
01:34 Overview
04:22 Hate
04:52 Jam 1
05:43 Jam 2
06:52 Finale
07:24 Verdict
08:46 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout"

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Bad Gear - He might be BIASED

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. There are these unfounded rumors that this show is not actually about Bad Gear, that I just pick random stuff I want to make music with and let clueless online trolls do their magic.

This is - of course - a steaming pile of horse dung and I just recently failed to find enough hate on, for example, the Access Virus B, Novation Drumstation and Dreadbox Typhon.

However, today we are going to talk about Digitakt II and as this particular unit was sent over by Elektron as a long term loan even they must be aware of the fact that late 80s polyphony, partial physics workflow and a lack of essential hipster features make for some juicy online controversy.

Bad Gear - I might be BIASED

This Digitakt II was sent over by Elektron as a long term loan.

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:02 Overview Digitakt 2
01:36 More New Stuff (Slicing, Time Stretch,...)
02:09 Kits, Stereo Sampling, Polyphony
02:32 New Filter Models
02:45 Sequencing, Euclidean Sequencer
03:11 Buttons, New Trigger Modes
03:37 Sequence Handling, More Sequencer Stuff
04:07 Prepare Mutes
04:13 FX Page, Bus Compressor, Saturation
04:43 LFO 3, Control All, Glissando,
05:18 Midi Sequencing, Midi Learn, Name CCs
05:27 Overbridge (or lack thereof)
05:34 Pricing
05:45 Hate
06:09 Jam 1 ( Nordic Techno )
07:04 Jam 2 ( Breaks & Stuff )
08:10 Finale ( Best of Bad Gear Sound Library )
08:40 Verdict"

Bad Gear - The END of Volcas

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Volcas are awesome: the original meme synths that kicked off an ongoing trend of miniaturization in music technology and turned countless promising musicians into irredeemable gear addicts.

However, everything must come to an end, so today we are going to talk about Volca Sample New Generation. You might be surprised that my original Volca Sampler - although prominently featured on this channel - never actually received the Bad Gear treatment, that this is the very last member of the existing Volca family to be reviewed here and let’s discuss why I don’t think there’s ever going to be another Volca as we know it.

Volca Sample is not a sampler

Bad Gear - The END of Volcas

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:02 Overview Korg Wolca 2
01:57 How to play tonal stuff
02:12 UI, Workflow
02:49 Reverb Effect, Analog Isolator
03:12 Sequencer (Step Jump, Active Step, Motion Seq)
04:00 Sample Import, Computer Integration
04:27 What else??? (Connectivity, Pricing,...)
04:50 Hate
05:15 Jam 1 ( Lo-fi House )
06:11 Jam 2 ( Drum'n'Bass )
07:16 Finale ( Proto Bass Music )
07:46 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Yamaha SY-22 - The Soundtrack Machine

video upload by AudioPilz

"You want full tracks, extended jams, sample packs, confidential information about gear featured in the next episode, vocoder shoutouts and/or general awesomeness? Become a Patron!!!

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Chapters:

00:00 Intro tune
01:19 Overview
05:25 Hate
05:51 Jam 1
06:48 Jam 2
07:58 Finale
08:29 Verdict

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Yamaha SY-22 Dynamic Vector Synth. Why is this soundtrack machine with a joystick not as popular as its sibling, the Korg WaveStation?"

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Bad Gear - Ensoniq Fizmo

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Ensoniq Fizmo. Is this one-of-a-kind digital transwave synth and unicorn of the kingdom of controversial gear actually worth the money it goes for on the used market. Why did it fail in the first place?

Interview with Scott Peer:
https://tapeop.com/articles/bonus/fiz...

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:21 Overview Ensoniq Fizmo
01:44 Origin Story of the Fizmo
03:01 Transwaves, waveform modulation
03:45 Filter, envelopes, LFO, Noise, modulators
04:10 Layers/Sounds, Presets, Multitimbrality
04:33 FX section
04:48 F-I-Z-M-O realtime controls
05:25 Arpeggiator
05:30 Patches, sound examples
06:06 Hidden parameters, software control
06:24 What else??? (voltage regulator, pricing)
06:58 Hate
07:22 Jam 1
08:13 Jam 2
09:13 Finale
09:44 Verdict
10:52 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout"

The Wiggler II & The Truth about Super Booth 2023

video upload by AudioPilz

"Taken from the @AudioPilz @superboothberlin 2023 coverage:"

The Truth about Super Booth 2023

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to the AudioPilz SuperBooth 2023 special. Will it provide The Truth about Super Booth 2023 ??? Including Borat - like encounters with Tatsuya Takahashi of Korg Berlin, marketing-meetups in the Teenage Engineering bus, my failure of getting a Yamaha representative in front of the camera, my lost Elektron brother, we will find out about how Polyend deals with trolls, whether Arturia people actually like the Drumbrute, there's plenty of meme goodness and I will jam on all the synths that I'm otherwise not allowed to put on Bad Gear. Finally and most importantly: does Nick Batt of Sonic State know about all the memes about him?

@superboothberlin @sonicstate

00:00 Introduction
00:16 Bad Gear???
00:20 Teenage Engineering 1 (TE TP-7)
00:45 Nick Batt #1
01:01 Tatsuya Takahashi (Korg Berlin) #1
01:51 Nick Batt #2
01:57 Arturia #1
02:30 Nick Batt #3
02:36 Sinevibes x True Cuckoo, Bad Gear Intro Tune
02:54 Tatsuya Takahashi #2
03:01 Nord
03:16 Sorry for deleting the Elektron Footage 😔😔😔
03:25 The Teenage Engineering Bus Incident
04:00 Nick Batt #4
04:13 Arturia #2 (DrumBrute Discussion)
04:53 Polyend #1
05:01 Nick Batt #5
05:25 Sinevibes #2 (huh, huh, huh,...)
05:32 Waldorf Confessions
05:51 Wiggler V2 (Hainbach approves)
06:08 Tatsuya Takahashi #3
06:34 Novation
06:42 Polyend #2
06:49 Yamaha
06:55 Nick Batt #6
07:03 FL Studio
07:12 Jam Part 1 (Schmidt Synthesizer)
07:29 Jam Part 2 (UDO Super Gemini)
07:44 Jam Part 3 (Waldorf Quantum MK2)
07:59 Jam Part 4 (Oberheim OB-X8)
08:14 Jam Part 5 (Mayer EMI)
08:30 Nick Batt #7 (Outro)"

Bad Gear - Roland SP-808ex Groove Sampler

video upload by AudioPilz

"You want full tracks, extended jams, sample packs, confidential information about gear featured in the next episode, vocoder shoutouts and/or general awesomeness? Become a Patron!!!

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:09 Overview
05:04 Hate
05:31 Jam 1
06:48 Jam 2
08:00 Finale
08:35 Verdict

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland SP-808ex e-Mix Studio Groove Sampler. What went wrong with the 90s flagship of the legendary SP series loved by famous artists like J Dilla, Madlib or Four Tet?"

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

KORG SUPER SECTION

video upload by THIS MUSEUM IS (NOT) OBSOLETE

View of the inside.

And the Bad Gear video he referenced:

Bad Gear - Korg PSS-50 SuperSection - Ultimate 80s Cheesebox???

video upload by AudioPilz

"In this episode of Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools, we are going to have some clean 80s fun with the Korg PSS-50 SuperSection. Did we find the ultimate 80s cheesebox? Do you know any bends or mods for it?"

AudioPilz Bad Gear posts

Bad Gear - Microkorg the 2nd

video upload by AudioPilz

"Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world’s most-hated audio tools. Sequel to iconic movies tend to have a bad reputation - which is not always fair. Who doesn’t like stone cold classic like Jaws II or Space Jam - A New Legacy and Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem is a guilty pleasure of mine for a reason.

Today we are going to talk about Microkorg II . This direct-to-Bad Gear synthesizer and successor to the OG hipster keyboard comes with all the features that made the original so great like minikeys and a front panel real estate-hogging genre selector and combines them with the blessings of gamification . Masterpiece!

Bad Gear - I'll stick to the OLD ONE!!!
synth keyboard

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:58 Overview Korg Microkorg 2
01:49 Synth Engine, Oscillators
02:22 Filter
02:36 Envelopes, LFOs, Mod Matrix
02:50 Timbres
03:09 Effects Section (Modulation FX, Reverb, Delay)
03:16 Arpeggiator, Looper, Vocoder
03:48 What else??? (Trophies, Presets, Pricing)
04:35 Hate
04:55 Jam 1 ( Techno )
05:46 Jam 2 ( 90s Beats )
06:45 Finale ( 2000s Bass Music )
07:17 Verdict
08:22 Patreon Vocoder Shoutout"

Bad Gear - Roland JP-8080

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland JP-8080. Is this classic digital 90s VA synth pioneer and rack synth / desktop synth sibling of the Roland JP-8000 keyboard just good for the legendary trance sounds and 90s rave cliches or can we coax some timeless tones out of it?

Thanks To Ingo from Bad Ischl and Ken Hayakawa for lending me this beautiful JP: https://www.danubefoundation.com/

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
01:07 Overview Roland Roland JP8080
01:39 Differences to the Roland JP8000
01:51 Oscillators (Supersaw, PWM, Noise, Feedback OSC)
02:40 More Oscillator Goodness (External Inputs, Ring Mod, Cross Mod, Sync)
02:59 The Filter (and its Limitations)
03:16 The Envelopes (and their Limitations)
03:32 LFOs
03:41 Overall Sound, FX (EQ, Delay, Mod FX)
04:02 Unison, Portamento, Legato
04:13 Presets
04:48 Arpeggiator, RPS Pattern Sequencer, Motion Control
05:14 Data Management, Backups
05:42 Pricing (WTF?!?)
05:49 Thanks!!!
05:58 Hate
06:24 Jam 1 (Multitimbral VA Sound Showcase)
07:19 Jam 2 (Synthwave Drum and Bass)
08:12 Finale (Trance)
08:40 Verdict"

Bad Gear - Roland TR-626

video upload by AudioPilz

"Become a Patron and get access to music clips from the show, additional content, Bad Gear samples and even more AudioPilz madness

https://www.patreon.com/audiopilz

Welcome to Bad Gear, the show about the world's most hated audio tools. Today we are going to talk about the Roland TR-626. Is this budget 80s drum machine worthy of the Roland TR legacy and can it hold up with legends like the TR-808, TR-909, TR-707 and TR-606? Is it as bad as the TR-505, the worst vintage drum machine of all time? Can the crunchy 8 bit lofi samples be used in modern music production?

Chapters:
00:00 Intro tune
00:56 Overview Roland TR626
01:24 Cheesy 80s Drums...
01:57 ...but there's a Twist (two actually)
02:07 Sample Transposition
02:20 Multiple Outputs
02:25 Quirks and Limitations
02:41 Step Sequencer (Shuffle, Accent, Scale,...)
03:04 Recording Modes (Step Mode, Tap Mode)
03:20 Patterns, Chaining, Presets, Tracks (Song Mode), Memory Cards
03:44 Rear Panel (Tape Interface, Midi, Trigger Out)
03:57 Circuit Bending, My modded old TR-505
04:18 UI, Battery Compartment, Pricing
04:34 Hate
04:58 Jam 1 (Pure Sounds & Two TB-3)
05:51 Jam 2 (Experimental + FX Pedals)
06:48 Finale (Rammstein "Adieu" - Style Metal Drums)
07:21 Verdict"